Holly Jolly Christmas

Christmas at the Dansie household was fantastic! We got everything cleaned up and put away and other than all the new toys that are still finding a home, you would never even know Christmas happened here! For the first time in years we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family. It was so much fun and totally reminded me of all the Christmas traditions that I grew up with.

Jeff's parents spent Christmas in Ohio visiting his brother so we celebrated Christmas with them yesterday. The kids thought it was great to have two Christmases!

When Daisy realized that Santa didn't bring her a real puppy, she was very sad and disappointed. She decided that this easel that he brought instead would be ok, especially after she got to paint.

Levi LOVED everything he opened and was so enthusiastic about all the gifts that he made everyone smile. One of his favorites are these blocks from Grandma Jones.

All of us felt especially grateful to celebrate the holiday with so many family members. We had Christmas Eve at my Grandma's house with about 55 family members, woke up Christmas morning at my parents house, then went back to Grandma's for breakfast. We got to see my great-grandma for the first time in years. After opening gifts there (where my grandma gave Daisy her very own sewing machine!) we headed to my paternal grandparents house. After a brief delay of getting stuck in the snow we made it in to spread our Christmas cheer. We are so blessed to have so much family so close!

Dear Santa....

Jeff and I had gotten a baby sitter and spent the evening together finishing up our Christmas shopping. That night as I was tucking her in bed, Daisy asked me, "Mom, does Santa have any dogs?"

"I don't know," I replied, "I know he has reindeer."

"Well I want him to bring me a dog. A real dog."

This was a new revelation. I brushed if off telling her, "Maybe you'll have to write him a letter," hoping she would forget about it in her sleep. No such luck. FIRST thing the next morning she woke me up to ask if I could help her write a letter to Santa. I just had to scan it before we sent it off.

Almost Halfway!

I have been praying for the last week to be able to feel the baby move. I just needed the reassurance. Well, my prayer was answered in the middle of the night. It was 2:30 in the morning and I had just gone to check on Daisy. As soon as I got back into bed I laid my hands across my waist and felt the baby - not just inside, but with my hands on the outside. Then it happened again. I woke Jeff up and made him feel it too just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. He said he couldn't believe that the baby doesn't yet weigh a pound and you can feel it so strongly.
Top 5 Reasons I Love This Stage of Pregnancy:
1. Feeling the baby!
2. Daisy talking to my belly.
3. Telling people 'no' when they ask if I'm expecting, just for kicks.
4. Wearing big comfy hoodies every day.
5. Eating lemons with salt - yum!

Top 5 Reasons I Would Complain if I Weren't So Excited:
1. Too fat for big pants, not big enough for maternity.
2. Eating more than my entire family put together at every meal.
3. Back fat...I thought the baby was in my belly!
4. The pass-out low blood sugar feeling I get if I don't eat every 12 minutes.
5. Pregnancy acne - just like high school.

Thanksgiving!

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with my mom's family at my Grandparent's house. This photo is of me, my mom, and my grandma. I love having Thanksgiving there because it is just like Thanksgiving was when I was young - totally chaotic, yummy, loud, and crazy. There were about 40 people there, which is a little shy of what it usually is.

This is Levi hanging out with my Grandpa - who just had open-heart surgery. We are so grateful he is recovering so well! The men usually try to wrangle the kids while watching football after dinner.

The women skip out on football and do a 'project' every year. This year we made blankets, book bags and backpacks for the Women and Children's Shelter. It was so fun! We had sewing machines everywhere! Daisy was all about it and got right in on the action. She actually turned out to be quite the seamstress.

I got to go shopping with my mom and sister on 'Black Friday' (and eat at In 'N Out Burger - hooray!) but the trip was cut short because we had to be back in town for the Annual Christmas Festival, and I was in charge of the Craft Show. We got back late Friday night to set up tables and chairs, and I was up at 6:00 Saturday morning to bake and get ready. The Christmas Festival was a great success. In addition to the Craft Show, Tree Festival, Pageant, and Santa (above) we added our first ever Christmas Light Parade. It was so great! Jeff and Levi rode on our ward's float and Daisy and I watched with some of the cousins.
Last night was our ward Christmas party. This year instead of having Santa, the activities committee did "Back to Bethlehem." Everyone came dressed up in bible era clothes (yes, there were a lot of people in their bathrobes.) Each family was given a small drawstring sack of coins after they were counted for the 'census' by Caesar Augustus. We went around to several 'shops' in the 'market' to buy our meal. You can see some of the shops in the background of the photo. We all sat on blankets on the floor to eat. Each family brought 'taxes' (canned food) which were collected by Roman Soldiers (in fantastic costumes) for the food bank. There was singing of Christmas carols and a live nativity. I couldn't believe how much work they went to! It was such a great opportunity to talk to Daisy about why we have Christmas in the first place. Her and Levi were both so excited to dress up - she thought she was Mary. It totally put me in the Christmas spirit!